The Williamson County District Attorney’s office has told the Lodge Card Club’s lawyers that the room’s business model does not comply with Texas law. Co-owner Jason Levin confirmed the news in an email to staff on Tuesday, laying off every employee and closing the 68-table Round Rock facility for the foreseeable future.
No charges have been filed. But the DA’s position removes any realistic path to reopening while the investigation continues. Levin warned that opening the doors would risk another raid, further asset seizures, and possible arrests.
The closure caps two weeks of escalating developments since the raid that shut down Texas’s largest poker room. The Lodge’s San Antonio sister property remains open and is unaffected.
What the DA’s Position Means
This is the first time a county prosecutor has explicitly stated that the membership-and-seat-fee model does not comply with Texas law. Previous enforcement actions targeted individual rooms for specific conduct. This targets the business structure itself.
That distinction matters well beyond Round Rock. Roughly 68 private poker clubs across Texas operate under the same framework, charging membership and seat fees instead of raking pots. If Williamson County’s reading holds, it threatens the legal foundation every Texas card room is built on.
The Levin Letter
Levin’s email to staff was personal and direct. He maintained the Lodge had always operated with “the utmost integrity” but acknowledged the DA’s office disagrees. The letter framed the closure as the only viable option given the legal risk.
Over 200 employees are now out of work. Levin expressed hope of rehiring if circumstances change, writing that the Lodge’s plan would be “to welcome you back with open arms.”
The Lodge’s most prominent co-owner has not commented publicly on the closure itself. His most recent statement came on March 16, when he denied any involvement in money laundering and personally guaranteed that all player funds would be returned.
The club’s bank accounts have been frozen since March 15, which means payouts depend on Polk’s personal finances.
Where the Investigation Stands
Last week, the 22-page warrant affidavit detailing $1.35M in suspicious deposits revealed a two-year undercover operation and five criminal violations under scrutiny. The document has not been shared with the Lodge’s legal team. No charges have been filed and no arrests made.
On March 25, Polk announced on Facebook that he has “finally got the green light” from his legal team to produce a video addressing the investigation. No release date was given.
The Texas legislature meets biennially in odd-numbered years. The next session does not start until January 2027, so no legislative clarification is on the horizon.
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